Couch 94 - Blowtorches R' Us

Good thing we're not going to the same meetup. The fellas in that town might not be safe. But they would die happy.

They'd never know what hit 'em... Shame really

I'm way off topic here, but...
Things I've learned from serving on a Jury:

1. People have a strange sense of what "business casual" means … it does not mean wifebeaters, cowboy hats or man-versions of daisy dukes shorts.
2. Fellow juror put down your cell phone and pay attention to the case
3. Other fellow juror, take off your baseball hat
4. The judge is allowed to be mildly funny, but not act as Barnum or Bailey
5. Lawyers, please don't try to be hilarious or entertaining. (Stopdog, I can't imagine you ever doing this. Thank you from jurors everywhere.)
6. Lawyers-- don't call an expert like a scientist and ask dumb-*** speculative questions. I value precise answers so don't argue over the possible weight of unicorn poo.
7. Defendant , try not to act like a twitchy crackhead. I really am trying to look past appearances and you are not helping.
8. Lawyers it is ok to thank the military people for their service. But it has to be sincere -- don't make me feel like I have to take a shower after you speak.

I feel better now.

Well, news I forgot to mention. I have a sort-of teachign job this summer. I did ESY (extended school year) with one kid in reading last summer. The same kid has been granted ESY again and I was offered the position again, since his mom liked me and the kid gave me no problems last summmer and all of his current teachers are sick of him and don't want to deal with him because he is a pain in the A S S for them. 2 hours a week for 8 weeks. Last summer it was only 4 weeks, but at the end of the 4 weeks his mother wanted more, but could not get it without another meeting with teachers and county people and stuff. I guess this year (they had the meeting today), she demanded 8 weeks. I don't mind...more income for me. And it won't take too much time away from CVS, it'll only be an hour a day, 2 days a week while a school with a room available is open. Schools go on half days during the summer here, so I would be done by noon at the latest. Need to get in touch with the kid's mom now to set up days/times, then I will know when to tell CVS I can't work. I won't feel too bad because during the school year I am not available during the day anyways, so it'd be no different.

I also have an interview on Friday for a special education position I applied to at another school. I guess they liked my resume. I will have to be a little late to my school-job, but it won't count against my time as interviews for promotions (higher position) are considered on the clock if they happen during your work day. If I got a teaching job, I would still do CVS in the evenings because the extra income would be nice and I enjoy it.

Not quite as po-ed at pdoc as I was earlier. He does have a point. I have a history of not taking medication and that is the main reason I was put on injections. I'm just worried about the program ending. Maybe he knows of other aid or something and just needs to look into it more or something. Who knows, anything is possible with him. Butt is still throbbing where I got the shot, hopefully it will stop soon.

I was on a jury for two weeks and treating horses all night after jury duty and I ended up falling asleep during jury deliberations. Not my finest hour though in my defense the jury had already been hung for 3 days and no one was changing their minds. It was just the same three people repeating the same opposing opinions for 3 days straight...

That sounds awful!!!!! During prolonged deliberations I can understand how that happens.

It's the stuff right in front of the judge that makes my jaw drop, both jurors and legal teams!!!

Even after the case I won't discuss specifics. However, there was an interesting domestic dispute right in front of the courthouse. Yikes!!

(((Squirrel))) i think pdocs are just tired of insurance companies giving them a hard time. I got a letter from my ins co about one of my meds and my pdoc said lets just wait til your prescription doesnt refill then they will call him!

So how are you the magic reading teacher with this kid?? That is great news!

So! I just got home from seeing t! It was SO so so so good to see her... I bet you can hear the smile on my face right now. She met me in the lobby of her hotel and we hugged hello and then walked to her room. We talked for like an hour & a half, catching up, did a little dream work, I gave her a poem I'd written for her and she cried when she read it, she kept telling me how different I look now than 2.5 years ago, how together I look, and so beautiful, etc. I tried to pay her, but she wouldn't let me, said it was her gift to me. Then we walked around the resort she's staying at a little bit just checking it out, it's a gorgeous place, then she walked me to my car and we hugged goodbye, I told her I was proud of myself because I didn't cry, and she said that's because I cried for you. Heh. And then I left. It was not as hard to leave as I had been afraid it might be. I am so very happy that I took the time off work and went to see her. So anyway, that's the short version of my precious visit with my incredible t!

I think I am the magic teacher because I am working one-on-one with him and he is getting attention. In a class he is not given individual (positive) attention and there are other kids around to tick him off and cause him to act out. One-on-one you eliminate the other students getting him angry. Was it a breeze last summer...no, but it wasn't anything like I saw him act in class the school year before. He still sometimes woudl claim he was too tired to do a reading, but I caught on that he did that when the reading looked boring, so I would make a deal with him, let's do this reading, then we can do one you chose after that. I didn't only want him to read what he was interested in, as that is not real life...sometimes in a job you will have to do something you think is boring, one needs to learn to cope with that. I spent an hour tonight looking for high-interest readings at and slightly above his level (gotta push him to improve) and found a few, mostly about wars during American History, but he likes talking about military and war, so it should be right up his alley. I also did some bios of presidents and things on the constitution, so it's not all war related. I also found some on sports and exotic animals, to throw in a little variety. I have 16 hours with this kid. I want to make it bearable since it is summer and still have him learn. I'd like for it to be fun, but for a struggling reader...reading just isn't fun, so I'll shoot for bearable.

That does sound like some interesting reading. The two of you sound like a good t-client pair. Its a challenge for both and you both profit.

I don't even want to know...

I like lawyer humor. It's just so random and unexpected...


They're trying to distract you or possibly annoy the scientist into saying something damaging.

The lawyer humor I experienced was the same bad joke involving an obscure sports celebrity. Told 3 times. The jury didn't laugh the first second or third time.

All other humor came across as passive aggressive jabs at the opposition or attempts to suck up to the jury.

I love humor. Most of it felt like manipulation.

In our defense, sometimes questions that sound stupid or obvious are because we have to lay certain foundations.
Sometimes we just get lost and ask something. And sometimes we are trying to piss a witness off.

I am not a trial attorney (I have a lot of civil incapacity hearings or bench trials with witnesses and the rules of evidence apply so I object and so forth but only a very few jury trials - if I am in a jury trial it is usually to second chair the lead attorney because I know what I will need preserved for appeal if there is one). And I definitely agree lawyers and judges should not try to be funny. The defendant was quite possibly firing on all cylinders as it was and doing his dead level best not to look like a twitchy crack addict - not that easy for some people.

Any court humor I've heard has been fast-as-lightening in-jokes that you almost don't get 'til three topics later. But I've never been at a jury trial either.

(((Art))) i would be over the moon! So cool for both of you

Thanks Stopdog! Was curious about your perspective!!!

Without getting specific, the questioning wasn't nec. stupid or obvious. It was like asking a scientist what he exact measurement of a "smidge" meant. Ok, maybe it seemed like a doomed line of questioning

I was and I think I still am! Thanks!

Both of us said several times "It's been SO long!" and "You look so good!" I so missed the physical presence of her for so long. What a trip, man, what a trip finally sitting across from her again while we talked!

I wrote about my t appt yesterday under the my pets forum cuz i came across a dog in a car on my way to my appt yesterday. I deleted it because nobody commented so i felt weird, but my point is, t and talked about it yesterday, then we talked about it again most of todays session. He said he even talked to his daughter about it. Really my point is, it took me a few hours yesterday to process what happened (i called t and he came out to the dog car too; police were called, finally the owners showed up, the dog licked me). I know my t loves dogs, but he responded to me, too - that is still sinking in. My point is, you will have a lot to talk about In the coming while. Dont be shy!!

You saved a dog! That's awesome, I'm so glad you were able to help!!

I am sure I will have more to talk about with t - we touched on it a little, why it felt so important for me to see her in person again - and I surprised myself, I hadn't gone in intending to do this, but I asked her if we could talk again in a month. I'm going to work on that some more and then revisit it on the phone after some time goes by and she was open to it of course.

Well, I am finding lots of stuff to distract myself from cleaning. I have to work until midnight tomorrow, so I will not have time to do what I need to get dome before Friday. So, I just spent an hour making and printing out programs for the awards ceremony we are having for just the kids in our class on Friday, as well as printing out the awards (which were already made weeks ago). Each kid gets 3 awards, 2 "fun" and 1 academic. They each get either a 7th grade completion certificate or a middle school diploma as well, depending on their grade. Middle schools in my county are only 7th and 8th grade (6th is still elementary here).

I need to frame the diplomas still (bought frames at dollar store). And I need to fold the programs.

Boy, I have a lot to do in the next few days.

I'm still playing over in my mind my talk with t today. I'll be doing that for awhile, methinks. It was so nice when we were walking around the resort grounds just chatting. She was talking about her decision to work out of her home after she first moved, she said she had thought about if it would affect boundaries with clients, inviting them into her "home", but she said the part that is her office is kind of detached, so it turned out to be fine, and her clients like it. It's interesting to me how our therapy relationship has changed with time. It felt very natural today, exactly like how I had described it felt awhile back, that I feel less like a client now and more like a less-experienced therapist consulting with her about a client who just so happens to be me. When I told her that recently she said "Yes!!!" And that was how it felt with her today. Way back when I still saw her in person, we never once left her office. So going for that walk with her this afternoon was so nice!! I'm interested to see what my dreams bring tonight.

I'm calling it a night. Sleep well couch!! (Or, have a good day!)

Artemis – I love to hear happy-ending stories, especially told by you art. Thank you for letting us share in your joy. Enjoy the wonderful feelings seeing your therapist has left you with.

Two separate therapy nightmares in the nine minutes between hitting "snooze" and the alarm going off again. I'm seriously anxious about this morning's appointment.

Forgive me for being so wrapped up in myself right now... I am rather exhausted and although I read everything I don't seem to have the energy to phrase replies. to those who need or want them.

Mast - I see nothing wrong with being wrapped up in one's self. In fact I'm supposed to be learning how to do that. Sending appt vibes your way & if it's over I hope it went well.